EEPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 127 

 MISCELLANEOUS MARINE AND FRESH-WATER INQUIRIES. 

 SPECIAL LOBSTER AND CLAM INVESTIGATIONS. 



In the urgent deficiency bill approved February 9, 1900, provision 

 was made for special investigations having for their object the insti- 

 tution of measures for the arrest of the serious decline in the lobster 

 and clam fisheries, which has been referred to in previous reports of 

 the Commission. The intelligent consideration of the condition of 

 these important fisheries and the steps needed to reverse the present 

 downward tendency involve a comprehensive study of their history, 

 methods, regulation, etc., but it has been apparent that the chief aid 

 which can be rendered by the General Government lies in the direction 

 of increased production through artificial means. 



The hatching of lobsters on a large scale is a comparatively simple 

 matter; but the rearing of the young to a point where they leave their 

 defenseless free-swimming stage and assume the habits of the adult is 

 a difQcult problem which has heretofore not been successfully solved. 

 With regard to the clams — more especially the soft-shell species 

 (Mya arenaria) — it has seemed clear that the future of the industrj^ 

 depended largely on tlie inauguration of planting methods similar to 

 those so successf uU}^ adopted with the oyster. Th is procedure presents 

 few difficulties and gives promise of large returns in a short time, at a 

 very small cost. 



In April, 1900, the following special commission was created by the 

 Commissioner for the prosecution of the investigations authorized by 

 Congress: Dr. H. C. Bumpus, chairman; Mr. W. de C. Ravenel, Capt. 

 E. E. Hahn, and Dr. H. M. Smith, secretary. It is chiefly to the bio- 

 logical and cultural problems involved in the development of practicable 

 rearing methods that the commission will give attention. Already 

 some important and significant results have been attained. 



MACKEREL. 



The question of the existence of different races of mackerel {Scomber 

 scomhrus) on the east coast of North America was studied by Mr. 

 M. C. Marsh in continuation of inquiries begun in the preceding year. 

 For the purpose of securing ample material, Mr. Marsh in July and 

 August visited several places in New England, and in Boston was able 

 to examine large series of specimens from the Canadian provinces. 

 Special facilities were extended b}^ Mr. J. R. Nealand Messrs. Potter and 

 Wrightington, of Boston, and Capt. A. W. Rich, of Provincetown. 

 In May Hon. E. G. Blackford, of New York, forwarded 200 mackerel 

 caught off New Jersey. About 2,000 specimens have now been exam- 

 ined, and their detailed study justifies the following conclusions: 



(1) The existence of a marked racial distinction between American 

 and British mackerel, as indicated by the studies of Mr. Walter 

 Garstang, is strongly confirmed. 



(2) Tlie evidence thus far accumulated fails to disclose the exist- 

 ence on the American coasts of distinct bodies of mackerel, charac- 



